Of fofter genius, but not less intent To seize the palm of empire, ATHENS rose. Where, with bright marbles big and future pomp,
* Hymettus spread, amid the scented sky,
His thymy treasures to the lab'ring bee, And to botanic hand the stores of health,
Wrapt in a foul-attenuating clime, Between Iliffus and Cephissus glow'd This hive of science, shedding sweets divine, Of active arts, and animated arms.
There, paffionate for ME, an easy-mov'd, A quick, refin'd, a delicate, humane,
Enlighten'd people reign'd. Oft on the brink Of ruin, hurry'd by the charm of speech, Inforcing hafty counsel immature, Totter'd the rash Democracy; unpois'd, And by the rage devour'd, that ever tears
A populace unequal; part too rich,
And part or fierce with want or abject grown.
SOLON, at last, their mild restorer, rofe:
Allay'd the tempeft; to the calm of laws
Reduc'd the fettling whole; and, with the weight
Which the two fenates to the public lent, As with an anchor fix'd the driving state.
* A mountain near Athens.
Two rivers, betwixt which Athens was situated.
§ The Areopagus, or Supreme court of Judicature, which SoLON reformed, and improved: and the council of Four Hundred by him instituted. In this council all affairs of state were deliberated, before they came to be voted in the assembly of the people.
Nor was my forming care to These confin'd. For emulation thro' the Whole I pour'd, Noble contention! who should most excel
In government well-pois'd, adjusted best To public weal: in countries cultur'd high : In ornamented towns, where order reigns, Free social life, and polish'd manners fair : In exercise, and arms; arms only drawn For common GREECE, to quell the Persian pride : In moral science, and in graceful arts.
Hence, as for glory peacefully they strove, The prize grew greater, and the prize of all. By contest brighten'd, hence the radiant youth Pour'd ev'ry beam; by gen'rous pride inflam'd, Felt ev'ry ardor burn: their great reward The verdant wreath, which founding ‡ Pisa gave.
Hence flourish'd GREECE; and hence a race of men,
As gods by confcious future times ador'd :
In whom each virtue wore a smiling air, Each fcience shed o'er life a friendly light,
Each art was nature. SPARTAN valour hence,
At the § fam'd pass, firm as an isthmus stood;
And the whole eastern ocean, waving far As eye cold dart its vision, nobly check'd. While in extended battle, at the field
Of Marathon, my keen ATHENIANS drove
Before their ardent band an host of slaves.
† Or Olympia, the city where the Olympic games were celebrated.
Hence thro' the continent ten thousand GREEKS
Urg'd a retreat, whose glory not the prime Of victories can reach. Deserts, in vain, Oppos'd their course; and hoftile lands, unknown; And deep rapacious floods, dire-bank'd with death; 190 And mountains, in whose jaws destruction grin'd; Hunger, and toil; Armenian snows, and storms; And circling myriads still of barb'rous foes. GREECE in their view, and glory yet untouch'd, Their steady column pierc'd the scatt'ring herds, 195 Which a whole empire pour'd; and held its way Triumphant, by the § SAGE-EXALTED CHIEF Fir'd and fuftain'd. Oh light and force of mind, Almost almighty in fevere extremes! The fea at last from Colchian mountains seen, Kind-hearted transport round their captains threw The foldiers fond embrace; o'erflow'd their eyes With tender floods, and loos'd the gen'ral voice To cries refounding loud-The fea! The sea!
In ATTIC bounds hence heroes, fages, wits, Shone thick as stars, the milky way of GREECE! And tho' gay wit, and pleasing grace was theirs, All the foft modes of elegance, and ease; Yet was not courage less, the patient touch Of toiling art, and disquifition deep.
My SPIRIT pours a vigour thro' the foul, Th' unfetter'd thought with energy inspires, Invincible in arts, in the bright field Of nobler Science, as in that of Arms.
ATHENIANS thus not less intrepid, burst The bonds of tyrant darkness, than they spurn'd The Persian chains: while thro' the city, full
Of mirthful quarrel and of witty war,
Inceffant struggled taste refining taste,
And friendly free discussion, calling forth From the fair jewel TRUTH its latent ray. O'er All shone out the great ATHENIAN SAGE *, And Father of Philofophy: the fun,
From whose white blaze emerg'd each various fect Took various teints, but with diminish'd beam. Tutor of ATHENS! he, in ev'ry street, Dealt priceless treasure: goodness his delight, Wisdom his wealth, and glory his reward. Deep thro' the human heart, with playful art, His fimple question stole; as into truth, And ferious deeds, he fmil'd the laughing race; Taught moral happy life, whate'er can bless, Or grace mankind; and what he taught he was.. Compounded high, tho' plain, his doctrine broke In diff'rent SCHOOLS. The bold poetic phrafe Of figur'd PLATO: XENOPHON's pure strain, Like the clear brook that steals along the vale; Dissecting truth, the STAGYRITE'S keen eye; Th' exalted STOIC pride; the CYNIC sneer; The flow-consenting ACADEMIC doubt; And, joining bliss to virtue, the glad ease OF EPICURUS, seldom understood. They, ever-candid, reason still oppos'd
To reason; and, fince virtue was their aim, Each by fure practice try'd to prove his way The best. Then stood untouch'd the folid bafe
Of Liberty, the Liberty of Mind;
For systems yet, and foul-enslaving creeds, Slept with the monsters of succeeding times.
From prieftly darkness sprung th' enlight'ning arts 250 Of fire, and fword, and rage, and horrid names.
O GREECE! thou fapient nurse of FINER ARTS!
Which to bright science blooming fancy bore, Be this thy praise, that Thou, and Thou alone, In these hast led the way, in these excell'd, Crown'd with the laurel of assenting Time. In thy full language, speaking mighty things; Like a clear torrent close, or else diffus'd A broad majestic stream, and rolling on 'Thro' all the winding harmony of found: In it the pow'r of ELOQUENCE, at large, Breath'd the perfuafive or pathetic foul; Still'd by degrees the democratic storm, Or bade it threat'ning rise, and tyrants shook, Flush'd at the head of their victorious troops. In it the MUSE, her fury never quench'd, By mean unyielding phrafe, or jarring found, Her unconfin'd divinity display'd; And, still harmonious, form'd it to her will : Or foft deprefs'd it to the shepherd's moan, Or rais'd it fwelling to the tongue of Gods. Heroic Song was thine; the FOUNTAIN-BARD *, Whence each poetic stream derives its course.
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